If I was asked right now to talk about this week I would just say that a new calf was born! I can remember that! Seriously, sometimes by Friday night the week is a blur! Photos and notes come out to remind me of everything that took place since last Friday. Does that happen to you? You know you have worked hard and been busy but when you are asked what you have been doing you go completely blank! Years ago I learned from Laine that when she worked hard all day in the garden when Art got home from work she would take him out and show him what she achieved. I liked that. My Mum is coming tomorrow and I will tour her around showing her what I achieved too. There is something very good about celebrating our achievements together! We are, after all, meant to encourage one another.
I continued to check the cows and calves. I ran out of apples to give them and am back to biscuits.
On my rounds yesterday one cow was missing. I went looking for her and sure enough she was in labor. I sat and watched for a little bit but she tried to move away so she wanted to be on her own. I came home and went back half an hour later... and then another half hour... and that time she had just given birth.
Today this little calf is running around and tail wagging.
Now we have six! I think this might be the last one this round. Six beautiful calves = happiness!
Being out in the garden and out in the paddocks is 100% good for me. We had gorgeous sunny days so I soaked it in. Birds are always part of my day. I love them so much. The Cockatoos are something everyone would notice. There was a sea of white Cockies out the front of the cabin.
It was Harper's birthday on Sunday (as well as Mothers Day) and Chloe made her a cake. Harper loves horses.
It was just beautiful!
I made the kids Honey Gingerbread to go to school.
Also for at home I made Peanut Butter biscuits.
Now that the rock garden is all in place (and the plants are in and growing) I moved on to another area that needed A LOT of help. This is the area around the back door. It is closed in on three sides. I used the chandeliers my friend got at the garage sale, an old mirror and some of the succulent cuttings potted up.
Part of the kitchen looks out over this area so every time I catch a glimpse of the chandeliers I love it!
The final area that needs a miracle is the back yard where I have my herb and veggie container garden...
I harvested a nice big head of Broccoli.
Chloe made me a Mothers Day gift.
It is a bed tray/desk... knowing me and how much I treat bed as my office!
The details are beautiful, down to a bluebird... 💗
I love it!
A beautiful reader, Chris, sent me a collection of tins. Some are gorgeous Christmas tins. Some are very deep, suitable for fruit cake...
These will be so useful! Thank you so much Chris!
I ordered some crochet cotton. I am making wash cloths.
Also I made some flowers for Mum to sew onto her knitted hats.
I have been sewing a little bit here and there. I am making reversible napkins in florals... shabby chic style...
It has been lovely collecting fresh clean eggs since the new bedding went into the hen house.
Paula sent me (all the way from the US) a beautiful parcel off the most perfect for me fabrics...
Thank you Paula I love them so much! I am so excited to get sewing!
We had two more bon fires.
This week I shopped online and went through the specials catalogue. I nearly passed out. There were dish washer tablets "normally" $56 a packet for half price. Liquid laundry detergent normally $42 on half price. Toothpaste for $10 They need a new name for the catalogue! Cauilflowers $8. I feel like the world has gone mad.
How did you build your home this week? We love to hear! xxx
Annabel you have defintely had a busy and productive week. I often get to Friday and wonder if I had done anything all week. I have usually been very busy.
ReplyDeleteThis weeks sewing was the making of some fold up to purse size shopping bags. These are great to keep in the handbag when out shopping. I am going to make some more and add them to the gift cupboard. I also added some extra velcro to the closures of the dogs new jacket he wears outside at night.
I spent a lot of time in the garden getting beds cleaned up and planted. I have two of my bathtub raised beds to clean out and then I have finally caught up. strawberries will be added to these beds. I have been mulching heavily and adding bags of alpaca poop to my potted orchard. I purchase the bags of poop from a local farmgate stall. Cabbage, tomato, tree lettuce, cassava, sambung and Chinese celery have been planted.
I cleaned out the girls shed and replaced their roost. The poop from the shed went into the compost. The composted contents of their yard went around the banana trees. Katie gave me a great sign for the girls shed for Mothers Day. I hung this on the front of their hut.
Two days were spent at Katie's. Yesterday I looked after 9 week old Toby whilst Katie caught up on the washing. Spencer had gone to work with Dad. Katie was enjoying being able to potter around and not having to worry about the baby. I was having a wonderful time getting in all the snuggles and cuddles. Today I helped out with Spencer and the baby at Playgroup. Katie and I tag teamed. Spencer had a ball and ran and ran and ran. No he didnt go home and have a nap. He just wanted to climb up on his Mother and snuggle in and watch TV. I had Toby most of the time so she was able to keep Spencer to some quiet time.
Tomorrow Katie and the family will be around for Morning Tea. Tania's Apple Slice has been requested. I will make this tomorrow morning before they get here. I will also make up a batch of sourdough pancakes for them to take home. Spencer loves them for breakfast.
Life is busy, surrounded by family good.
Dear Jane, Basically everyone needs a spare shopping bag so they would be a great gift. Next week I will be following you and working on my food garden beds as well. You have been a huge help to Katie. It all makes for a very busy week! That apple slice was perfect for the apples you were given. The Saturday morning tradition you have now is lovely. These routines are a very nice part of the week and something for everyone to look forward to! Have a lovely weekend with some rest, with love Annabel.xxx
DeleteAnnabel, I was just gobsmacked at the beauty of that cake! What a work of art! Chloe is such a talented decorator.
ReplyDeleteAnd the bed desk is such a nice gift. So pretty, too. I love your kitchen linens. I was especially interested in the napkins because ours are looking pretty ragged. Do you have instructions on those in your website that I can look at?
We're having a light spring rain this morning. I'm enjoying it! Have a blessed week!.
Dear Debby, Thank you so much! I cut out a lot more squares for the napkins today. I just made it up... sew together like a pillow, turn out to good sides, hem last bit and top stitch right around. I try and pair up two fabrics that are different but kind of compliment each other. Eventually I will make sets of six... until I have them as gifts... plus a set for myself. We had some rain over night too and it was just what we needed! With love Annabel.xxx
DeleteYou had a very productive week, my friend. I love the napkins, your crochet and the yarn. That is a beautiful head of broccoli. Harper is so cute and Chloe is extremely talented. The cake was gorgeous as was the lap table.
ReplyDeleteI love seeing your animals and the wildlife on your farm. It is such a soothing and peaceful environment to dwell within.
With much love,
Glenda
Dear Glenda, Thank you! We were out in the paddock this morning cutting wood, later having a bon fire and checking the cows. It truly is so lovely to be out here! Have a lovely weekend and Happy Birthday for tomorrow! With much love Annabel.xxx
DeleteDear Annabel, I describe your post with one word - Beautiful!
ReplyDeleteFirst of all, Happy Birthday to sweet Harper. She is Beautiful! And the cake was a jewel of a cake, including the wonderful ribbon. Well, Chloe is a Master Chef of cakes!
Beautiful is the little black velvety calf. In Romanian beautiful is *frumos*. (froomos)
Beautiful is your corner with the new chandelier, your crochet and sewing projects, the new fabrics, the great gift for your bed office, and I can not imagine how a yard full of cockatoos would like - very exotic for a central-eastern European.
Just beautiful!
I like Laine*s story, I am doing the same with my husband. And so happy when he notices even the smallest pansy that begins to bloom.
Not many news to share here - I was quite sick with a bad cold - like stay in bed sick - and other than mandatory things in small time frames wasn*t able to do for a few days. We have very-very wet days, and as I was so pleased with the garden a few days before, yesterday I saw almost all my lettuce was eaten by slugs. This is the lettuce from the big garden in the back, the ones in containers near the house is ok so far. I think container gardening is better for me.
So far the strawberry garden is looking very nice and promising - fingers crossed. Still, a lot of rainy days are forecast for the next weeks and I keep picking up and set traps for the slugs - I don*t want to use any chemicals.
I was given and planted 5 lavender bushes and I propagate 9 more new plants from them that look nice and I am confident they will grow roots.
Sadly, because of the late frost on some nights, the fruit trees that were in bloom have lost their fruits so we will see what harvest here will be.
This is a good example to show how important is to have a back-up plan and not to rely only on your garden, or your produce. (By extension the bank, or the supply chain, or the payday, or the government, or...) Be prepared in any way you can, every little bit counts.
The new pearly chickens (I think they are Sussex) are very well, after 2 weeks we put them together with my golden ladies, my son and husband made their space much bigger - so now all we hear from there is some happy chatting.
Wishing all the Bluebirds a nice weekend and sending a big virtual hug,
Laura_s_world from Romania
Dear Laura, I hope you are feeling much better. You will need to be resting over the weekend I think. Laura... especially with lettuce I concluded the same... in a container garden I can grow them, nothing eats them. In the ground EVERYTHING eats them! I had to give up with in the ground. Also... the higher up my containers are from the ground the better I have noticed. So I moved to more and more containers... anything deep and large that would hold soil I look at and consider a planter! Five Lavender bushes all ready to plant is amazing! They will have a big impact on the garden! I hope your propagation works as well.
DeleteSo good about the new chickens. When you feel up to it post a photo of them on Insta! I would love to see! In Australia a way to get rid of slugs is to put beer in a shallow dish and the slugs like it and the joke is they get drunk and drown. However it works it does work. Thank you for your encouragement to Chloe. She is managing a lot with two small boys! Now rest and get better. With much love Annabel.xxx
Yes, and it doesn't even have to be good beer! The cheapest works just as well, and of course, if you have any beer you don't like, that works too.
Delete--Maxine, aka mikemax
Thank you. I will throw a real big party for them!
DeleteDear Annabel,
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely productive week you've had. I often shake my head because the weeks seem to go by so fast and it's Friday. I need to start writing down all I accomplish during the week. I know I did a lot of cooking, making homemade onion soup 3 quarts for the freezer, two gluten free and sugar free ( bananas and 1 tablespoon of honey are the sweeteners.) banana breads., rice custards that we had for dessert one night topped with fresh blackberries, set all my seedlings out to harden them off. They will be planted today, had a yearly dermatology appointment Had a dental appointment. So far I've knitted 8 beanies for Christmas gifts using your Mum's pattern. I am using the beautiful alpaca yarn that I got at a thrift store for 50 cents a 4 oz skein. That was such a bargain as in the shops here or to buy it at an alpaca farm it can be upwards to $ 30 a skein. I do this in the evening. Did a lot of stamping and die cutting for future cards. Gave the craft room a much needed cleaning and reorganizing. I pulled together all my soap making supplies as I am going to make soap, lotion bars and lip balm from my supplies this year. All the usual fluffing and dusting got done. And above all prayed for our country and it's leaders (USA) as their decisions or indecisions that need to be tended to at this time will effect so many in the monetary arena. Blessings to all, Cookie
Dear Cookie, I would swear time is going faster, I feel the same! Today Mum came here for afternoon tea. She told me "Cookie has already made hats with my pattern!" so she was very happy about that! She brought me some more to send in the children's shoe boxes. Plus she made some for Chloe's boys. W arm hats each year for growing children are a very good gift. You did a lot, especially considering you also had appointments to attend. Your gift cupboard will be looking good and so would your freezer! With much love Annabel.xxx
DeleteYou had a great week! The back porch is a sweet place to hang out! Those fabrics are just lovely. We have a lot of Chickadees, like the right fabric, here in our yard. Happy Birthday to Harper! Our oldest grand turned 15 this week! Time goes so fast!
ReplyDeleteI have been prepping food for two weeks at the lake house. We will go Sunday and two of our sons family will join us for the weekend in the middle. I try to bring from home as much as possible so I am using food bought for good prices and using my stock. I have prepped most of the baked goods including buns for hamburgers on Memorial Day.
I always keep a jar of fruit crisp topping in my freezer. This makes using fruit that needs to be used so easy. Last night it was 3 very ripe rears and a bruised apple. It made the most delicious dessert. I had a ham bought on special at Easter in my fridge that got sliced and cubed and packaged for the freezer. It made 31 meals from an $8 ham! I was so surprised to see eggs on sale for 98 cents in one grocery ad and when we went to buy them they were only 70 cents at our store! The salvage grocery advertised bag salad and chopped kits for 5/$4 yesterday with 12 days to use them on the date. I never buy these expensive bag salads but that was in my price range so we bought enough to eat delicious salads every day until they expire. Most will go along to the lake and what a treat to have such convenience.
Sunday was Mother's Day here in the USA and my Mom has severe dementia but I was blessed that day that she knew who I was. You don't realize how much you miss your Mom until she is gone but still here. Treasure your Moms while you still have them!
Oh my you gave me a laugh, ripe rears! Still laughing!
DeleteDear Lana, I am so glad your Mum knew you that day! What a gift.
DeleteHave a wonderful time at the Lake House. The fruit topping in the freezer is a really good idea! I do save many things that can go into a topping... I will do this. I also think there are so many things you can do with ham! 31 meals from one ham was a very good job! With much love Annabel.xxx
The cake is amazing! Special birthday cakes will be remembered forever.
ReplyDeleteDear Penny, I agree, these things make special moments. Thank you so much! Love Annabel.xxx
DeleteDear Annabel,
ReplyDeleteHooray for the new calf! I just love what you did with that outside area...looks absolutely beautiful. You have been so busy. And Chloe's cake is gorgeous!
Hubby's homemade incubator worked! Out of 12 eggs, we had 9 successful hatches...upon inspection of the 3 leftover eggs, 2 had died close to time, and one wasn't fertilized. For a cardboard box with incandescent lightbulbs, this was an amazing success rate! I'm so proud of my husband! The chicks are all well and running around...here's hoping they aren't all roosters! Ha, ha.
I have been very busy here this week. I got the screened in porch ready for summer, and this was a big job. It all had to be cleaned: vacuumed, winter grime washed away, curtains washed, furniture cleaned, cushions out. It looks like a million bucks; now it just needs to warm up so we can use it! Ha! There's a birthday here this week, so I finished up a sewing project and will be making a peanut butter cup cheesecake tomorrow. (Life's rough, isn't it? :)) I also cleared out a very weedy flower bed; I just need to lay down some cardboard to keep the weeds away until I can figure out some plantings to go in. There's always something to do! I don't know how a person can be bored at home!
Wishing you and everyone here a great weekend!
xx Jen
Dear Jen, I am impressed (and amazed) about the cardboard box incubator! That is a great success rate. Hopefully you will get 4 or 5 hens!
DeleteYou did a lot, having the screened porch area sounds lovely. I am sure you will find something to plant in that flower bed! All your spring cleaning was fantastic, I understand how good that feels. Things seem so fresh! Have a good new week! With love Annabel.xxx
No wonder you are struggling to remember your week Annabel, by the time I read your post I’d forgotten what I read at the start of it 😂
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on the safe arrival of another calf, you have had such success with your births.
I was wondering if you have previously published the recipe for your peanut butter biscuits, and if so do you have a link? They look exactly like the ones my mum used to make when I was at school, and they were delicious!
Your chandelier garden is so beautiful, what a treat to glimpse that from your kitchen.
Happy birthday to Harper, her mum is very clever making such a beautiful cake and your Mother’s Day gift.
I’ve had a busy week too, and as you say I can’t hardly think what I did, but I didn’t stop! A lot of gardening happened, it’s the best time of year to be outside doing the big jobs, so I’ve made a start on that. I bought 10kg of carrots on sale yesterday for $1/kg and pressure canned 16 number 27 Fowler jars of carrots. I still have a few bags left to process, but I might bake a carrot cake and blanch and freeze the rest. Oh and I started making over my everyday pantry, I have so many Fowler jars that I am converting all my plastic pantry containers to glass Fowler jars, besides the tall jars make the most of the space in my pantry shelves, and it looks so pretty 😍
Have a lovely week Annabel and Bluebirds 🐦
From Cheryl
Dear Cheryl,
DeleteThank you! The biscuits are just one 1 egg, 1 cup sugar (I use raw) and one container of peanut butter. Mix, let it sit for a little while, mix again. Bake until just slightly browning. I make these because of no flour so gluten free.
I absolutely love glass jars in the pantry. I can just imagine all your jars lined up! Well done on the carrots! Have a great new week to you too! With love Annabel.xxx
After reading this, I've pulled up a thermomix recipe for Peanut butter cookies. I'll had a handful of choc chips to them, I think. :)
ReplyDeleteHi Frogdancer, I use one eggs, 1 cup sugar, one container or peanut butter. They are good! xxx
DeleteI am re reading all your posts and enjoying them so much! Thank you - we are all so blessed to read your blog. Can I ask do you have the recipe for mint jelly in the slow cooker - Leslie’s apple- I think you have it on Facebook- but I’m not on Facebook sorry! Thanks very very much
ReplyDeleteThank you so much! I cant recall this recipe... but what I will do is ask on the Tuesday club and see if someone remembers it... if so I will get back to you. I use mint jelly in the slow cooker over lamb... but havent made it in the slow cooker. I will go ask.xxx
DeleteThank so much for replying- I think it was from October 20& might have been in a saucepan not a slow cooker- sorry my mistake! I’ve made many many of your recipes and all are great! Bless you
DeleteDear Annabel, what a wonderful week! I am amazed by Chloe’s talent. Her cakes are magnificent and I know Harper will be talking about this cake in years to come. I love those napkins! Your outdoor area looks so pretty. I love your crocheted dish cloths. Your grandchildren are very lucky to get those biscuits- delicious! We received some news this week that my Dad has to go in for a major (and unexpected) operation. I laid down the first two days, but then I got up and I got moving! I received some free uniforms and a whole bag of mandarins. I will make a cake tomorrow. I fertilised the plants and am dreaming big of the garden. It helps! Lots of love, Lily
ReplyDeleteDear Lily, Thank you! I hope your Dad will get through his surgery well and everything will be ok but it sure is upsetting and stressful, I have been through it. So hugs.
DeleteThe free uniforms are a big help! And the mandarins! They are delicious. Good job in the garden too. Yes each step helps! With much love Annabel.xxx
As I scrolled through this post, my grandson was sitting on my lap. He insisted I stop at Harper's picture with the cake so he could sing "Happy 'Day" to her, lol. So she got serenaded. I love reversible napkins and once made a set. If I ever get to pull out the sewing machine again without little fingers poking around, I would love to make another set. We use cloth napkins all of the time in our home.
ReplyDeleteI have just finished deadheading the rosebushes. All but one of mine are just a once a year bloomer but I rescued a half price rose bush today that I'm hoping will be a regular bloomer all summer. It looks a bit rough but I love to rescue plants. I've also planted Hellebores, iris rhizomes, basil, dill weed, oregano and sprinkled coreopsis seeds all over the place in the hopes that they'll rebloom all summer long if I can keep them deadheaded. They are supposed to be a plant that blooms all summer long but they never have yet for any of my family. We used a single leftover steak to make a big salad for lunches today. It's our busy weekend of the month with church groups so we've been out a lot. I am tired and having a difficult time thinking. Just one more activity to go and then we can swing into the work week.
Dear Terri, I love kids aren't they so beautiful! Napkins have made a big comeback and they are such simple sewing!
DeleteYou did lots of planting! I hope the rose revives well under your care, I am sure it will. I hope you get a little bit quieter week this week! With love Annabel.xxx
Adjusting to Old Age, Part One--I am 77 and have arthritis, although otherwise I'm in very good health. As I get older (which is happening even though I haven't grown up yet), the two hardest jobs are changing the sheets on the bed and vacuuming. Last week I acquired a handmaiden to do the vacuuming. (I'm looking for someone or something to do the bed!).
ReplyDeleteMy son visited for most of the week and persuaded us to buy a robotic vacuum. I hadn't wanted one because I thought it would be too hard to set up and I was sure the dog wouldn't leave it alone (he's a terrier, after all!). Well, he's not interested in it at all! The Roomba was about $400 USD and my son programmed it for me. The first time we used it, it mapped the area. At 7:30 the next morning--the time we programmed--it turned itself on and started around the house the way it had mapped itself. When it was done, it returned to the docking station and emptied itself! We use it 3 times a week, which is far more often than we ever vacuumed before! Yes, it does a good job! There are a few corners it can't reach, but it's easy to use a stick vac or even a broom about once a week to get the dog hair.
The other thing I did last week was plant my garden. I have about 90 square feet in two raised beds and it keeps me in fresh veggies with enough green beans and tomatoes to can. This year I am growing the tomatoes in containers (repurposed 5 gallon detergent buckets) so that gives me a little more room to plant things. This year I planted tomatoes and green peppers (started the seeds on the windowsill), butternut squash, green beans, Swiss chard, spinach, beets and one hill of zucchini. I also have lettuce growing in a flower bed. Except for the tomatoes and green peppers, everything was planted from seed.
Thanks to all of the Bluebirds to your many good suggestions every week. I'm still learning new things!
Dear Maxine,
DeleteI am glad you got help with the new vacuum! I hope it works well! Now the bed... I buy a size up for the sheets. This helps a fair bit. Getting a fitted sheet on a heavy mattress can be like wresting a bear, its ridiculous.
Well done on all your planting! I cant wait to hear how the tomatoes go in the containers... well I think. You have a great variety planted too. I love all the news and ideas we generate too! I love learning something I can use! Which is often! With much love Annabel.xxx
Annabel, I forgot to mention that I've recently resurrected one of my mother's handmaidens--her pressure cooker! She bought it in 1948 and I've actually had it for nearly 50 years. I've always used it to cook beans, but recently I've started using it for potatoes, and it's a game-changer! 15 lbs. pressure, 4-5 minutes for medium potatoes cut in half, one cup of water, let the pressure come down naturally. Quick and easy and perfect every time. Wow!
ReplyDeleteI just saw this next bit Maxine... wow! I have an instant and still am scared of it... but that sounds amazing! xxx
Delete